Kid tags 2 in Valenzuela condo robbery

Two men who allegedly broke into a condominium unit in Valenzuela City and stole nearly P170,000 in valuables were arrested Tuesday, based on eyewitness accounts the police obtained from a 10-year-old girl.

The Valenzuela police identified the suspects as Justine de Lima, an 18-year-old student; and Genesis Antonio, 22.

The two suspects both reside at Chateau Valenzuela Condominiums on P. Gregorio Street, Barangay Lingunan, the same place where the owner of the ransacked unit, Nancy Pelayo, lives.

Pelayo reported the break-in to the police after coming home Tuesday afternoon and finding the lock of the door to her unit destroyed. She said P169,500 worth of gadgets and appliances were stolen.

Investigators later talked to a 10-year-old girl who lived near the victim’s unit and who claimed to have seen the suspects enter Pelayo’s home three days earlier.

According to the girl, she saw De Lima and Antonio destroying the lock on the door of Pelayo’s condo unit around 11 p.m. on Jan. 4. A third man, who remained unidentified, later arrived, she said.

When De Lima noticed that the girl was observing them, the suspect approached and told her in Filipino: “How are you? I’m just going to the house of my friend.”

When they finally managed to open the door, De Lima, Antonio and their cohort entered and then stepped out after a few minutes, carrying a bag, the witness said.

The police arrested the De Lima and Antonio, who lived in separate units, while they were still at the condo building shortly after talking to the girl.

The stolen items, however, were never recovered. Nathaniel R. Melican